Immerse yourself in the creative tradition, science, and culture of the Arctic

View the spectacular Arctic coastal regions by Zodiac

Overview

South Greenland’s stunning coast. The communities of south Baffin. The islands of Ungava Bay. People, wildlife and landscape are the true Heart of the Arctic!

Visit three distinct Arctic regions on this voyage aboard the Ocean Endeavour. Explore the deep fjords and vibrant communities of Greenland, including the world’s smallest capital, Nuuk. Cross the Davis Strait in the wake of the explorers, searching for marine life and seabirds.

South Baffin Island’s Inuit art-making communities are famous throughout the world. Meet the artists. Pick up a carving, a print, or a tapestry. Nunavik, the Arctic coast of Quebec, offers outstanding archeology and wildlife.

Plentiful sea ice means great opportunities for wildlife viewing from the ship or board a Zodiac—or board a Zodiac to seek whales, bears, and caribou. Keep your binoculars ready for thick-billed murres, guillemots, dovekies, and more.

Iqaluit, at the head of Frobisher Bay, is Nunavut’s bustling capital. A population of nearly 8,000 (and growing) call Iqaluit home. Local attractions include the territorial Legislature, igloo-inspired St. Jude’s Cathedral, art shops, and more.

We will transfer by Zodiac to the Ocean Endeavour through busy Iqaluit harbour. Take a moment to notice the amazing tide! Once all are aboard, we’ll begin our journey down Frobisher Bay.

Day 2: Frobisher Bay

We’ll be on the lookout for wildlife, of course. Our geologists will have you raving about rocks, and the tundra plants beneath your feet are worth a closer look. Expect compelling scenery, and soak up the Arctic splendor as we go!

Day 3: Kimmirut (Lake Harbour)

Kimmirut means “the heel” in Inuktitut, referring to an outcrop of marble across the bay from the community. Kimmirut is considered one of the most charming communities on the South Baffin coast.

Art aficionados may know the hamlet as Lake Harbour, once the home of a Hudson Bay company post. Art has played a major role in putting Kimmirut on the map. The Dewey Soper Building houses a gallery of outstanding works of art.

Day 4: Kinngait (Cape Dorset)

Kinngait was ground zero for the Inuit art market. In 1959, the West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative was established: it remains the oldest arts organization in the Canadian Arctic and the oldest professional Inuit printmaking studio in Canada.

Old and new generations of outstanding artists, carvers, and printmakers continue to make Kinngait a proud centre for Inuit art. We’ll visit studios and meet the artists here—an opportunity to purchase outstanding works straight from the source.

Day 5: Hudson Strait

On this exploration day, we’ll be making the most of what the wind, weather and wildlife have to offer. We can expect to navigate the icy waters of Hudson Strait. Our expedition staff will scan for polar bears, walrus, whales, seals, and seabirds as we go.

Day 6: Ivujivik

We call in at Nunavik’s most northern community, Ivujivik. With a population of just under five hundred, the dramatic setting sits at the confluence of Hudson Strait and Hudsons Bay, the high tidal environment provides for rich wildlife. Nunavik is the Inuit homeland in Quebec and comprises the northern third of the province.

Day 7: Ungava Peninsula

Heading northwest along the Ungava Peninsula, we’re exploring an area of treeless tundra rich in geology and flora. We’ll enjoy hiking and a Zodiac cruise.

Day 8: Akpatok Island

Uninhabited Akpatok Island is the biggest island in Ungava Bay, at over nine hundred square kilometres. It’s named for the akpat—the thick-billed murres—that nest on ledges of Aktpatok’s lofty cliffs. These penguin-like birds are truly a delight to watch: tremendous swimmers, but comical flyers.

Here we’ll use our Zodiacs to scout the shorelines and any outlying ice with hopes of seeing polar bears, walrus, and other marine life.

Day 9: Ungava Bay

Today will be an expedition day in the truest sense as we navigate the east coast of Ungava Bay. We’ll search for Polar bears as we call in at an abandoned fishing community.

As always expedition staff will be watching for birds, marine mammals, and wildlife on the land. Keep your binoculars and expedition gear at the ready!

Day 10: At Sea – Davis Strait

Our presentation series will continue as we steam across the Davis Strait towards Greenland. Our resource staff will deepen your understanding of the Arctic as we go. This is an excellent time to enjoy workshops and group learning, watch a documentary or dive into our library.

While out on deck, keep your binoculars ready for minke and humpback whales amid pack ice, as well as the seabirds that are sure to mark our passage.

Day 11: Nuuk

Welcome to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland that bridges old and new. The old harbour region of town includes many buildings dating from the Danish colonial days. The modern downtown core includes shopping, cafes and restaurants, and public institutions with a European flair.

The Greenland National Museum is one of Nuuk’s many outstanding features; the world-famous Greenland mummies are housed here. The museum’s exhibits also offer in-depth information about colonial, Norse, and Inuit presence in Greenland—a must-see.

Day 12: Qeqqata Kommunia

The west Greenland coastline is a rich mixture of fishing communities, many islands and complex coastal waterways. The waters are relatively warm here, due to the West Greenland Current and the sub-Arctic location. This makes for lusher vegetation.

This is a day in the spirit of expedition travel and we will avail ourselves of the opportunities that present themselves.

Day 13: Kangerlussuaq

Early this morning we’ll complete our overnight journey up Sondre Stromfjord—a 168-kilometre-long fjord surrounded by mountains and glaciers. Kangerlussuaq, the town at its eastern head, means ‘the big fjord’.

Kangerlussuaq is a former US Air Force base and Greenland’s primary flight hub. We’ll transfer to shore by Zodiac and be bused along Greenland’s longest road—less than twenty kilometres—to the airport, where our charter flight will take us to Toronto.

Sailing with a maximum of 198-passengers, Ocean Endeavour is the perfect vessel for expedition cruising. Outfitted with twenty Zodiacs, advanced navigation equipment, multiple lounges and a top deck observation room, she is purpose-built for passenger experiences in remote environments. The Ocean Endeavour boasts a 1B ice class, enabling her to freely explore throughout the Arctic summer.

Launched in 1982, she has had numerous upgrades, most recently in 2010 and 2014. At 137 meters (450ft) in length, Ocean Endeavour has plenty of interior and exterior space. Enjoy multiple decks offering comfortable lounge chairs, outdoor dining, a swimming pool, sauna and even a hot tub! The spacious interiors allow for multiple workshops and presentations to occur simultaneously. Community is at the heart of Adventure Canada’s expedition experience. We gather together to learn, enjoy a drink, sing a song or share a yarn – connecting with one and other. The three lounges aboard Ocean Endeavour are fantastic public spaces for seminars, events and dialogue.

The Ocean Endeavour’s private spaces are stylish and comfortable. All cabins have private washroom facilities, a phone for internal calls, radio, TV and air-conditioning. There are a variety of cabin categories available ranging from 9-30 m2 (100-320 sq ft). Photos of most cabin categories are available under the "Dates & Prices" tab.

Ocean Endeavour’s crew is experienced, and friendly. Her shallow draft and maneuverability allow her to access isolated fiords, bays and secluded communities. The stylish vessel is at home among the glorious settings we seek. Enjoy the class and comfort of a boutique hotel, while venturing to some of the world’s last great frontiers aboard the Ocean Endeavour!

Ship Images

Deck Plan

Pricing

2020 Fares are per person in US Dollars: Save 15% (book by October 31, 2019)

Category 1: $4,995 Deck 4

Category 2: $5,995 Deck 4

Category 3: $7,395 Deck 5

Category 4: $8,695 Deck 4

Category 5: $9,995 Deck 5

Category 6: $11,295 Deck 7 & 8

Category 7: $12,595 Deck 8

Category 8: $13,895 Decks 5 & 7

Category 9: $15,195 Decks 5 & 7

Category 10: $16,495 Deck 7

If you'd like a single occupancy cabin, the fare is 1.5x the fare quoted above in the various categories

Our small ship cruising programs allow you to experience the best of the natural world, while enjoying the comforts of our friendly floating hotel. The ship generally makes crossing between islands at night, so every morning you awake to new vistas and discoveries. Every day we offer a combination of interesting shore excursions and fun shipboard activities. You can choose which elements of the program you want to participate in.

Our excurions onshore will involve a relatively low level of exertion, but you will need a reasonable level of mobility to get up and down the gangway and climb into and out of Zodiacs (with assistance). Some of our shore landings will be 'wet', requiring waterproof boots. Once you have left the zodiac, you'll find our shore excursions accommodate both those who wish to enjoy a gentle stroll and those who prefer more active hikes. Our onboard specialists will join us on these shore excurions to provide interpretation and narration to these wonderful landscapes and experiences.

Each evening we will gather in the lounge to recount the days events and share memorable stories. Our onboard musician will provide some lively entertainment during happy hour and the expedition leader will outline the following days's schedule. Our resource staff of naturalists, historians, and other guest speakers will give informative talks at various times throughout the voyage.

Meals in the ship's dining room are a great opportunity to meet new firends and recount the day's adventures. Special diets can be accommodated with advance notice. Safety is also a top priority with Eagle-Eye Tours – our team has extensive experience in the field, and all of our Voyages are run in conjunction with operators with the highest safety standards.

When the ship is underway, it is a wonderful time to join a naturalist on deck, take photos of the stunning scenery, or get caught up on some reading in the library.

We know that everyone travels for different reasons. Over the years, however, we have found one common element among the guest who choose to travel with us - a thirst of knowledge and authentic experience. Knowing this drives us to ensure the highest quality learning experience on our trips, by taking time to carefully design each trip we offer.